Four graphs linking Covid-19 deaths and the housing crisis in the UK (Inside Housing, 29 May 2020)

• The housing pandemic: four graphs showing the link between COVID-19 deaths and the housing crisis

• By Nathaniel Barker. Published in Inside Housing on 29 May 2020

• https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/insight/the-housing-pandemic-four-graphs-showing-the-link-between-covid-19-deaths-and-the-housing-crisis-66562

• Summary:

  • The four graphics are:

    • COVID-19 death rates versus housing overcrowding

    • COVID-19 death rates versus prevalence of HMOs (Houses in multiple occupations)

    • COVID-19 death rates versus homelessness

    • COVID-19 death rates versus social housing shortage

  • From the text of the article:

    • "Live in poor-quality, cramped, unsuitable accommodation and you are more likely to suffer from a wide range of illnesses, such as cancer and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

    • In 2015, the Building Research Establishment estimated that poor housing costs the NHS at least £1.4bn a year. Yet, despite the growing body of evidence, the disconnect between housing policy and health policy remains steadfast.

    • Now, the coronavirus pandemic – described by prime minister Boris Johnson as “the worst public health crisis for a generation” – has thrown the problems into sharp relief. With more than 37,000 people having lost their lives to COVID-19, the UK has the highest number of deaths in Europe and second-most globally.

    • While a myriad of factors have contributed to the high number of deaths, housing conditions are likely to have played a key part. At the start of the month, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released shocking figures showing that poorer areas of the country have significantly higher coronavirus mortality rates."

• Regulatory levels: local, national (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland; UK), EU

• Keywords: coronavirus, Covid-19, UK, housing conditions, public health, data